{"id":54177,"date":"2026-07-20T12:00:13","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T12:00:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/?p=54177"},"modified":"2026-07-24T17:32:38","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T17:32:38","slug":"ias-2026-programme-highlights-to-look-out-for","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/i-base.info\/htb\/54177","title":{"rendered":"AIDS 2026: Programme highlights to look out for"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Graphic<\/strong><\/p>\n

Simon Collins, HIV i-Base<\/strong><\/p>\n

The AIDS 2026 conference is being held from 26-30 July 2026 in Rio de Janeiro with an exciting programme that is already posted online. [1]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Introduction<\/h2>\n

Held every two years, the International AIDS Conference organised by the International AIDS Society (IAS) is the largest international HIV meeting, with good community engagement in a broad programme. In addition to covering basic and clinical science, this conference has a strong focus on social science, key populations, treatment access and global health policy.<\/p>\n

The programme consists of over 150 sessions including plenary and other oral presentations, with<\/span> over 2400 posters. These sessions will also be available online for registered delegates.<\/p>\n

Hopefully IAS will also provide early open access for at least some key sessions, including the opening ceremony (speakers still not announced but which will include a key community talk), and the closing ceremony, which includes rapporteur summaries of the most important research (with community tracks covered by UK activist Susan Cole-Haley). [2, 3]<\/p>\n

The official theme of AIDS 2026 is #RethinkRebuildRise, and more than 200 activities will be hosted in the Global Village, including workshops, informal talks, performances and exhibitions \u2013 showing diverse community responses to HIV.<\/p>\n

It is also appropriate to bring the conference back to Brazil as the country has a proud and innovative history of progressive early approaches to HIV prevention and treatment. Together with India and Thailand, Brazil was one of the few countries to challenge global drug patents by manufacturing their own generic versions of the latest drugs, whilst also making them affordable.<\/p>\n

As an upper-middle-income country, despite having high prevalence, Brazil is routinely excluded from access to either affordable generics or sufficiently discounted prices. More than 830,000 people living with HIV live in Brazil and as with many other countries in South America, Brazil is also a country where HIV cases continue to increase in some key populations, showing the urgency of their leading role in demanding affordable access to injectable PrEP across South America.<\/p>\n

UNAIDS also recently recognised Brazil for eliminating vertical transmission \u2013 and being the first country with a population >100 million people to achieve this. [4]<\/p>\n

Programme highlights<\/h2>\n

A selected summary of likely expected highlights is included below, many of which are oral late-breakers, with the most recent results. This is only a snapshot selection to give a flavour of what to expect and the meeting will include far more surprises than can be covered here or reported afterwards.<\/p>\n

Hyperlinks are to the abstract pages but the embargo for the contents of all studies will be lifted on Monday 27 July.<\/p>\n

New drugs in the HIV pipeline<\/h2>\n

AIDS 2026 will include updated results on many of the pipeline drugs presented earlier in the year at CROI.<\/p>\n